Rotatable information finder



9, 1937. c. HATHAWAY 2,098,933

ROTATABLE INFORMATI ON FINDER Filed July 29, 1953 5 ILO.DIAL EVVEN 72p NAMEOFP M 823 8 WI TNESSES. INVEN TOR.

A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED s'rrs earns: creme ROTATABLE INFORMATION FINDER Chester Adrian Hathaway, Davenport, Iowa Application July 29, 1933, Serial,No. 682,890

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in rotatable information finders in which a disc is rotatably mounted on a surface on which is placed, immediately adjacent to the circumference of the disc and radially disposed thereto, certain information or index facts which the disc supplements by giving detailed information in regard thereto.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, easily manipulated device from which all essential information can be obtained without confusion to its user.

A further object is to provide a means by which certain classifiable information is given in a compact form, utilizing space which is ordinarily of little value because of its proximity to the center of the disc.

Other important advantages inherent to this invention will be manifest from the detailed description which follows taken in connection with the attached drawing.

This invention can be used to locate merchandise in department stores, to locate and give the type of service supplied by gasoline filling stations, and other retail outlets. It is useful whereever a considerable amount of information is desired, part of which falls into one or the other of a plurality of classes. It is of value also in the radio field.

In its use in the radio field the invention can be used to locate radio programs. The index facts surrounding the disc may refer to day of the week and hour of the day, or may refer to programs given over the radio classified as to type of program, or any other set of index facts. With the pointer on the disc set to the particular index fact selected, the other information is visible, including the name of the station or stations over which that program may be obtained.

A modification of this invention which will give a great deal more information is obtained by rotatably mounting a disc on each side of the surface which carries the index facts or key information. These discs may give similar information or the index facts used may be different on each side.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view of my invention with a portion cut out to show what goes beneath the disc. Fig, 2 is a cross sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view showing a disc on each side of the surface which carries the index facts or key information, and is a modification of the invention.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts thruout the several views.

As herein illustrated, my invention comprises a disc-bearing surface of suitable material I, on which is rotatably mounted disc 2, which has radial slot 3 therein varying in width depending on the use to be put to its portions. A grommet or rivet 4 holds the disc 2 in rotatable contact with disc-bearing surface I. Beneath disc 2 on disc-bearing surface I a portion of the information is placed in compact form near the center of the disc 2 in the form of dots 5 which are shown in the drawing in Fig. l where the portion of disc 2 is cut out, and also dots 5 are shown in the narrower portion of slot 3 where they are performing their function of giving information. Additional information 6 is placed on disc-bearing surface i, being radially disposed in relation to disc 2 which covers all portions of information 6 except that which applies to a particular index fact, the selected information being shown framed in the wider portion of slot 3. Divisions i of index facts 8 are shown radially disposed in relation to disc 2, and are placed just outside disc 2 on disc-bearing surface I. Index facts 8 follow immediately after divisions 'i and are the facts concerning which more definite information is given. Special information columns 9 and I0 appear in table II which is placed on disc 2 in such a position that when a selected index fact 8 is designated by pointer 12 the dots 5 register in slot 3 to give the necessary information.

Fig. 3 shows a modification in which disc 2 with slots 3 is mounted on one side of disc-bearing surface IA, and disc 2A is mounted on the other side of disc-bearing surface 5A and has slot 3A cut therein, the whole being rotatably mounted by grommet or rivet 4.

This invention is applicable to many fields and is capable of giving information in great detail on many subjects. In describing its operation its application to the radio field is used. As illustrated in the drawing, division 7 is the day of the week, index fact 8 is the hour of the day. Additional information 6 is the name of the radio program, and table II contains the names of the broadcasting stations in column 9 and the kilocycles in column ID. Other columns can be added to this table if more detailed information of a classified sort is desired. By turning disc 2 to the day of the week and the hour of the day concerning which information is desired, by rotating disc 2 until pointer I2 is directly opposite it, the name of the program 6 will appear in the Wider portion of slot 3 and dots 5 will appear in the narrower portion of slot 3 registering with the broadcasting station or stations on which this program will be given. Table ll may also give other information relative to the stations whose names appear in column 9. It should be noted that by the use of the dots 5 a plurality of stations giving the same program can be shown. Also a great deal more information can be placed on the device because the space toward the center of the disc can be utilized. It is to be understood that when dots 5 are mentioned, any form of mark which registers with a table or tables H on disc 2 is to be considered as included in the invention.

Division 1 and index fact 8 can show type of program and name of program. My invention provides a wide range of adaptability as to information given. A considerable spacewill be 20 available for advertising purposes, and in some cases the entire information given can be of an advertising nature. The invention may be modifled from that specifically shown in the drawing without departing from its scope.

I claim:

In a device of the character described, a base formed of any suitable material and having informational matter thereon, a disc rotatably mounted on said base with said informational material radially disposed as to said disc and immediately adjacent to the circumference thereof, additional information on the base beneath the disc, a slot in the disc thru which said additional information can be read, a pointer between the slot a-nd'the circumference of the disc, dots lo- 1 cated on the base beneath the disc, a table of classified information on the disc, and connecting lines from the slot to the classified information on the disc.

C. ADRIAN HATHAWAY. 

